Page 40 of Horn of Plenty
“I—” she began, but Cal cut in.
“We’ll have to get back to you. This is a decision that we’ll need to make with the town council,” Cal replied, but his tone signaled there wasn’t any chance that he’d be on board.
“We understand. Just know, we’re all in with Eat Elverna,” Preston added.
Cal started for the door, leaving her alone with the chefs.
Embarrassment and anger welled in her chest as she nodded to the men. “Thank you again for the tour and the coffee,” she said over her shoulder, trying to keep up with Cal, who’d already left the café.
He’d gone too far. First of all, she wasn’t about to allow anyone—even him—to answer for her when it came to a job opportunity.
“Cal!” she called, hurrying to catch up to him. “What is going on?”
“Not now, Mabel,” he cautioned as he strode toward the delivery truck. She had to jog to keep up, and that was no small endeavor in a pair of Jimmy Choo heels.
He opened the door for her to get in, but she slammed it closed.
“I’m not getting into the truck until you tell me what’s going on!”
He glanced back at those damned rundown homes. “Not here.”
She pointed to them. “Why are you so fixated on those houses?”
“Get in the truck, Mabel,” he ordered.
Who did this man think he was talking to?
“No!” she snapped.
He ran his hands through his hair. “Can we please get out of here?”
“Only if you promise to tell me what’s going on,” she shot back.
“I can’t do it here. I can’t…” he answered, choking up as he spoke.
Her frustration dissolved into concern. “Okay, let’s go. But you’re taking me someplace where you can explain what’s going through your head.”
His stormy blue eyes blazed with unspoken agony. “There’s only one place I can do that.”
* * *
Neither of themsaid a word as Cal drove south on the interstate. He was heading back to Elverna. She knew that much. But when he missed the turn to Muldowney Farms and headed for the outskirts of town, she couldn’t piece together where they were going until the quarry appeared.
The water glistened with the final rays of light playing on the sun-dappled surface. The tall grasses and wispy willow trees swayed in a tranquil breeze as the hum of crickets and the early calls from bullfrogs peppered the air. But she couldn’t concentrate on the peacefulness. No, there was nothing peaceful about this place for her. In fact, it opened every insecurity she’d attempted to hide with the invention of Bella Mae.
“Why are we here?” she asked as he parked the truck in the same spot as he had on the night that she’d returned to Elverna. The night they shared their first scorching kiss right on this stretch of road.
“Because what I have to tell you needs to be said here,” he replied, getting out, then coming over to her side.
Taking her hand, he led her to the tree—the same damned tree where he’d left her all those years ago.
She pulled away. It was too much. “Why do we have to discuss a deal with Preston and Logan here? Do you honestly not see the opportunity they’re giving us?”
He crossed his arms. “I’m not saying that what they’re doing isn’t good, Mabel.”
She threw up her hands in frustration. “But you don’t want to be involved? I thought the idea behind the sustainable farming initiative was to transition Elverna into a prosperous, sustainable, organic farming town—as well as helping people in need. Newsflash! There are people in need in rural communities, suburbs, and cities!”
“I understand that, and of course, I want to help people no matter where they live,” he replied, staring up at the sky as if he were searching for answers.
